Dear Baron Atreus.
I personally congratulate you on your recovery.
We hope the Vermillion family understands the needs of the Thornvale family.
Signed, Baroness Cecile Thornvale.
Every time I read a letter from the Thornvale family, I feel it's more than just empty platitudes.
It's impossible for the Thornvale family, who have been silent since Baron Atreus severe sicknes and Vermillion family mysterious death, to take the initiative to write such letter. Especially after I destroyed the artificial dam.
Most likely, the letter was a warning to the Vermillion family.
Well, I don't give a fuck to begin with, anyway.
A month has passed since the river flow to Vermillion territory returned to normal, and we were able to quickly repair the damage to the farms and wheat fields.
Great hope has grown, and many people have felt the relief of the river water.
From my last observation, the Vermillion family has fewer than thirty soldiers.
Those soldiers are busy speeding up the recovery of the farms and corn fields, so defense against external enemies is truly in the hands of Leysha and me.
"Just keep this letter, Leysha. I'm not sure why I need to read it," I said lazily, giving the letter back to Leysha.
"Earlier, Baron Atreus wanted to confirm something… that's why you asked me to hand over the letter," Leysha reminded me.
"Oh really? Hmm… it's been a month since I received the letter. Maybe I just wanted to confirm whether there would be a messenger from the Thornvale family at some point. But maybe that's just my guess."
"…speaking of messengers, the maids just received a message from Arod."
"Arod? Is he the representative from the northern region of my domain?"
Leysha nodded quickly, "Yes, Baron Atreus. Arod said he wanted to meet with the Baron tonight if possible."
I paused for a moment, considering the urgency of the meeting.
So far, I heard nothing but positive news about the development and restoration of the farmland from Leysha and the knights under my control.
So why did Arod want to see me?
"Just tell him to come in now, Leysha," I said after a long pause.
"Really, Baron Atreus? Do you perhaps still need time for this meeting? We can help inform Arod about it," Leysha replied quickly.
"No need. Tell him to meet me. Now."
"But Baron…we—"
Leysha suddenly fell silent, her face serious.
"What's wrong, Leysha? Is Arod someone I can't trust?" I asked sharply.
"I-I would like to express my opinion, but—"
"Don't be shy. Just tell me," I quickly retorted.
"V-Very well…thank you for your permission, Baron Atreus. I don't think we should trust Arod too much. Since your illness, Arod has been the representative of the northern Vermillion Territory, who has never shown any sympathy for you and your family. We fear his loyalty to you is highly questionable."
I chuckled.
A typical enemy within, huh.
"I advise Baron Atreus to expel Arod and his loyalists from the Vermillion Territory! Their absence is far better than their mere complaint!", Leysha asserted.
It was a bold idea, but I sensed there would be significant consequences for resistance if I did so.
"Thank you for the warning, Leysha… Have him come to me now. I'll deal with him my way," I demanded without further question.
Leysha can't encourage me to reject Arod.
She preferred to obey and submit to my decision.
The door opened, and I saw the tall man in the gray coat enter with a sad expression.
The man immediately knelt down, refusing to stand even when I asked him to.
"Baron Atreus…! The northern part of the Vermillion Territory is still very dry! We can't even begin to repair our livestock and grain fields! Everyone is starving!", he exclaimed firmly.
This was strange.
I had already confirmed that rivers flowed in each of the four Vermillion Territory regions: north, east, west, and south.
"...it seems like something is blocking the river flow to the northern territories, though I don't know what it is. It's still just a guess."
"Y-yes, Baron Atreus! Th-that's a possibility, and we request Baron Atreus's assistance in checking it out," Arod suddenly asked, seemingly panicked.
"Is that true?" I asked, testing his response.
"Y-yes, Baron Atreus! Our situation is extremely dire, and we request Baron Atreus's wisdom in this urgent situation!" Arod exclaimed firmly.
I seemed to have gotten a sense of what Arod was trying to convey from his words.
"Very well. I will deploy my troops to bring food aid there for temporary survival. I will also visit the northern Vermillion territories to observe the situation firsthand."
"B-Baron Atreus...! Please don't be rash!" Leysha whispered anxiously.
Arod, on the other hand, immediately bowed his head, grateful for my willingness.
"Thank you for your wisdom, Baron Atreus! We await your arrival in there!" Arod said, excusing himself and leaving the throne room.
After Arod left, I got up to get ready.
But I noticed Altha still looking at me worriedly.
"Why, Leysha?" I asked casually.
"Many of the Vermillion troopers don't trust Arod. It would be very dangerous for you to go there alone, Baron..." Altha replied, still worried.
"It's okay. I own the Vermillion territory, and it is me who should be responsible for it and the people within it. Besides... I'm not going alone," I said lightly, holding Leysha's hand.
"A-ah... Baron... do you want to take me too?" Leysha asked, her face already flushed with embarrassment.
"Yes, come with me, Leysha."
"B-but... I'm just a maid."
"To me, you're more than just a maid, Leysha. You're more than that." I replied calmly, kissing her lips.
"Ah, Atreus…"
Leysha sighed softly as she continued her caresses.
We paused for a moment, catching our breath, as our caresses seemed to have gotten a little too passionate.
"I-I have healing and protective magic that can help Baron Atreus later. I hope I'm useful…" Leysha whispered.
"Yes, you will definitely be useful, Leysha. You're always useful to me." I whispered soothingly to Atlhea, gently kissing her neck to signal that if anyone targeted my maid, they would be finished by my hands.
*
The distance from Vermillion Fort to the northern Vermillion region wasn't too far, only about half a day's journey by horse.
Upon arrival, as Arod had described, much of the area was still barren, with livestock carcasses scattered about, dead corn and wheat fields, and seemingly deserted residential areas.
I ordered my knights to provide immediate aid to those in need, while Leysha and I headed alone towards the river in the northern territory.
Arod and his soldiers were already there, about 15 in total.
I considered that number too many for just one territory.
The river was quite a distance from the residential areas in the northern Vermillion territory, so my troops and I separated quite a distance.
Midway through the journey, I saw Arod and his soldiers gathered at a meeting point near the dry riverbed.
Leysha took my hand. I could feel the tremors in her grip.
"Baron Atreus, be careful…" Leysha whispered cautiously.
"Don't worry, Leysha, I—"
Suddenly, five of Arod's warriors unleashed their earth magic, causing the ground behind me to rise into a slab that enclosed me and Leysha.
"Baron Atreus…! T-this…!"
Leysha and I were instantly frozen, she instinctively activated her magical protective shield to protect herself and me.
From a distance, I saw Arod staring at me with a sinister gaze.
I knew Arod had been planning this for a long time.